Page 102 of Ghosts of the Dead

“I got what mattered,” he replies, and the impact of his words makes my hands pause for a moment.

Luna lies nearby, watching us with attentive eyes. Her head rests on her paws, but her ears are alert. She took a well-deserved nap when we got back to camp to gather supplies. Mars told me about how he had to play tug-o-war with a rotter leg with her because he and Caspian didn’t want her bringing it back to camp because of the smell. I’m glad they won.

Weapons are laid out on various rusted crates beside us including knives, guns, spare clips, and a surprising array of items we scavenged from inside the arcade. Who would have thought a place meant for recreational entertainment would yield such an arsenal? Among them include security batons from the staff room, heavy metal coin dispensers that make excellent bludgeons which I already got to test out on a rotter in a superhero shirt, and even a few sharp-edged metal stars from some ninja game Caspian has been practicing throwing at rotters. He’s not too bad, and hits his target about twenty-five percent of the time.

The most valuable find, I think, was the maintenance room. Old cleaning chemicals, bottles of acetone for removing sticker residue, piles of rags, and boxes of matches meant for the arcade’s birthday parties. No candles, fireworks, or grenades were found, but I can improvise with these. I had rubbed my palms together when I found them, already calculating the explosive potential. My Molotov cocktails will get a nice upgrade.

I finish wrapping Jace’s wounds and pack up the first aid kit. “Try not to pop those stitches,” I say, echoing the words he once said to me, even though he doesn’t have any stitches.

He answers with a smirk. “With you as my nurse, I won’t make any promises.”

Caspian methodically refills the magazines. Mars sharpens a blade, and the rasp of stone cuts through the quiet. Jace has moved to stand at the edge of our camp, watching the horizon, deep in thought on a plan of attack after talking it over with Mars.

I crouch and run a whetstone down the edge of my blade over and over again until the metal gleams sharp enough to bleed on. Luna shifts closer to press her warm body against my leg, and I scratch behind her ears.

None of us speak while preparing for this battle. We don’t need to. The finality of it all hangs in the air with the smoke from the dying fire.

I clear my throat. “Thank you.”

One by one, they all look up. Even Luna tilts her head back to look at me.

“For being here,” I elaborate. “For this. For everything you didn’t have to do, but chose to do anyway.”

Mars leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, flashing that soft, crooked grin of his. “Always, purple.”

Caspian nods. “You’re not alone. You never were, you just didn’t know it yet.” He flashes me one of his small award-winning smiles.

Jace meets my eyes, and something softer flickers behind the sharp edges. “We’ve got you, fire demon.”

I set my blade down and stand before looking at each of them in turn, one after the other. They’re mine. I step closer and reach for Mars first. Luna rises with me, padding a few steps behind.

Mars’s hand catches mine, and he pulls me in. His otherarm wraps around my waist, and his head dips low until his lips brush the shell of my ear. “I love you, my favorite season.”

“You do?”

His lips curve into a smile, and he nips at my earlobe. “I don’t say shit I don’t mean. Seriously. I’ll even give you my last sock if you want it.”

The breath catches in my chest, and my nerves settle when I realize something. My fingers twine with his and I whisper back. “I love you, too, my favorite planet, but why does it feel like goodbye?”

Mars presses his forehead to mine with a smile that’s soft but sad. “Because it could be, and I don’t want to take a single minute with you for granted.” His lips meet mine in a kiss that’s slow and deep, and I let myself melt into him for a moment.

When we pull apart, Jace comes up and lifts me into an embrace and whispers against my lips. “I won’t let anything happen to you. That’s a promise.”

I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and meet him with a serious expression. “You better not let anything happen to you, either, or I’ll make sure you come back as a rotter solely so I could torment you for all eternity. You won’t even be able to hobble away because Luna will use your leg as her favorite chew toy.”

He chuckles and buries his face against the crook of my neck. “I promise to do my absolute best to contribute to the best possible outcome.”

“That’s acceptable,” I say in a serious tone, but I can’t hide the smile that plays on my lips.

“My turn.” Caspian wraps his arms around my middle, causing Jace’s hands to fall to my hips while I’m gently placed back down on my feet. I turn my head to see Caspian, and his mouth lands on mine in a sweet kiss. “You’re far too important to use to let anything happen toyou. I don’t like this, and would much rather run off together and live happily ever after, but I’ll help you fight your ghosts like you helped fight mine.”

“My ghosts will fight back,” I warn.

Mars presses against my side and brushes my hair out of the way, so I’m pleasantly sandwiched by all three of them. “They’re no match for a stubborn-as-fuck woman and her three relentless and slightly overprotective men.”

“Slight?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. If anything, I pity them.” Mars presses his lips to my temple and I close my eyes, soaking in the moments.

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